Boston Herald - Boston Herald

Bianchi: Is Celtics coach Doc Rivers, like Urban Meyer, bailing on sinking ship?

Mike Bianchi — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:29:00 -0400

ORLANDO, Fla. - Don't do it, Doc.

Don't be like Urban Meyer.

Don't bail out on the Boston Celtics like Meyer bailed out on the Florida Gators.

And right now, Doc, that sure is what it looks like from the outside looking in.

Sadly, it appears Doc Rivers wants out of Boston now that the organization's "Big Three" have aged and splintered, and the championship window is slammed shut. Sort of like how Meyer wanted out of Florida after Tim Tebow left and the Gators were relegated to the status of Nick Saban's favorite foot-wipe.

Deal in doubt, Doc Rivers meets Danny Ainge

Steve Bulpett — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

After living with uncertainty about their coach since the night the team was eliminated from the playoffs, the Celtics will hope to gain a better understanding today when Doc Rivers meets with Danny Ainge.

According to a league source, Rivers hopes after that discussion to make his first public comments regarding his future since saying on May 3 that he was uncertain if he would be on the Celtics bench for the 2013-14 season.

Discussions rare as Kevin Garnett, Doc Rivers await fates

Steve Bulpett — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The Celtics and Clippers were still on speaking terms on a Doc Rivers trade as of last night, but there had been very little in the way of conversation.

According to league sources, as of early evening the teams had spoken just once yesterday, and that discussion didn’t last all that long. Both sides are trying to find an acceptable way to get Rivers and Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles while getting the Celtics enough in return to satisfy what they believe is the market value for the duo.

Celtics: Many questions, few answers

Steve Bulpett — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers apparently turned Father’s Day into Go No Further Day, choosing to leave their stalled trade talks in the same ditch into which they were driven Saturday.

In place of the discussions, questions appeared and multiplied.

Is there a basis to restart the talks?

Are the Clippers looking at bigger prey?

Will Doc Rivers be comfortable continuing as the Celtic coach if no escape route can be found?

Has Paul Pierce hired a realtor for his Boston-area digs?

Like Doc Rivers, Jason Kidd’s built to dive in cold

Mark Murphy — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The NBA’s sense of what can and can’t work was reshuffled prior to the 1999-2000 season when Doc Rivers, without a shred of coaching experience, took over the Orlando Magic.

He had retired from playing in the spring of 1996, but thanks to his highly acclaimed work in television, Rivers maintained a high enough profile to make that rare transition.

Celtics, Clippers at impasse over Doc Rivers

Steve Bulpett — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Talks between the Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers on transactions involving Doc Rivers and players were said to be all but dead last night.

Sources close to the situation weren’t sure if anything could yet rekindle the discussions, but it appears a grand bargain that would have netted the Clippers the coach while the Celts acquired players to jump-start their rebuilding has hit a road block.

Doc Rivers high on Clippers' list, but Celtics remain roadblock

Broderick Turner — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:56:00 -0400

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Clippers' coaching carousel took many turns this week, as the team interviewed three candidates for their opening, while a fourth coach - Doc Rivers - popped up high on their wish list, said several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The Clippers began by interviewing Indiana associate head coach Brian Shaw on Monday.

Jason Terry believes in Celtics

Mark Murphy — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Jason Terry became a Celtic last summer because he believed the team represented his best chance at winning a second NBA championship.

A devastating mix of problems, from injuries and age to Terry’s own subpar performance, got in the way last season. But the 35-year-old guard, who had arthroscopic surgery to remove the plica from his left knee two weeks ago, doesn’t believe the overall team goal has changed.

Source: Vinnie Del Negro could fill need

Mark Murphy, Celtics Notebook — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Now that the NBA’s prime coaching pool is shrinking by the day as Doc Rivers contemplates his Celtics future, Danny Ainge has no choice but to consider a backup plan if his coach of the last nine seasons leaves.

Two league sources with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed yesterday that if Rivers does indeed leave, former Clippers coach Vinnie Del Negro will receive serious consideration as his replacement.

Doc Rivers' eyes open to other options

Steve Bulpett — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:49:00 -0400

While the situation regarding Doc Rivers’ future with the Celtics has, on the surface, appeared to remain consistent in its uncertainty, there have been changes in his outlook regarding options he would consider.

Whereas Rivers had said he would coach only the Celtics next season, choosing between another year on the bench or a sabbatical, sources said he is now open to other jobs in the NBA, providing it’s a very good situation and that the team and the Celts can agree on fair compensation.

Notebook: Danny Ainge expects to see an improved Rajon Rondo

Steve Bulpett, Celtics Notebook — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:24:00 -0400

While so much uncertainty dribbling around the Celtics these days — uh, heard any good Doc Rivers rumors lately? — the club is fully expecting to be improved in at least one position next season.

Not only will they be better at point guard when Rajon Rondo returns from ACL surgery, but Danny Ainge believes this version of Rondo, when healthy, will be a notch above the one voted an Eastern Conference All-Star starter.

Celtics to play Wolves during preseason in Canada

Associated Press — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:52:00 -0400

MONTREAL — The Boston Celtics will play a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Montreal next season as part of the NBA's Canadian series.

The NBA announced the pairing on Tuesday. The teams will play at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Oct. 20. It's the second season the league has held preseason games in Canada.

The Wolves have been at the forefront of the influx of international players into the NBA in recent years with the likes of Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko and J.J. Barea.

Doc Rivers stays silent, keeps eye on Ainge's decisions

Mark Murphy — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:56:00 -0400

The elephant in the Celtics’ Waltham training facility has bred a herd.

Doc Rivers shows up for predraft workouts, helps with evaluations and does what a head coach always does at this time of year. When not in town, he talks with his boss, Danny Ainge, on the phone.

Ainge has become irritated by the Doc question — whether the coach, who started this by indicating he might not come back, is returning — but the man who can end this strange, silent vigil hasn’t said a word.

Vets aren’t Danny Ainge’s only decisions

Steve Bulpett — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

As the NBA Finals go on without them, the Celtics are working the gyms to monitor prospects and working the phones to see what trade possibilities exist. Clearly, this without them thing is something they’d like to rectify.

After auditioning a number of players at the team’s facility in Waltham, Danny Ainge took to the road this week in an effort to gather information in advance of the June 27 draft.

Surgery for C’s Jason Terry

Mark Murphy — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:29:32 -0400

Jason Terry, as it turns out, was not running on two healthy legs by the end of the season.

The Celtics guard, who tweeted a picture of himself running on a treadmill in the Celtics’ Waltham practice facility yesterday, had an arthoscopic procedure to remove the plica from his left knee.

The plica is described as an extension of the protective synovial capsule of the knee, and can become irritated, enlarged or inflamed if caught between the patella and the femur.

Celtics have all the answers

Mark Murphy — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:09:57 -0400

Celtics branding ascended to a new level on May 22 when James Pallotta, the Celtics minority partner who is also president of the Italian soccer club AS Roma, presented Pope Francis with a Celtics jersey on the steps of St. Peter’s.

The white home jersey, adorned with No. 1, also had The Pope lettered across the back.

Miami’s Shane Larkin, Celtics might be match at PG

Mark Murphy — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Shane Larkin, the 5-foot-11 Miami point guard whose size has always given NBA scouts pause, gave them something else to consider during last month’s combine in Chicago.

His 44-inch vertical leap was the second-highest ever recorded at the combine, and a number that even his Baseball Hall of Fame father, Barry, probably would have considered unthinkable. But it’s that mix of athleticism and leadership that brought him to the Celtics’ training facility for a predraft workout just over a week ago.

Waiting game continues for C's

Steve Bulpett — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 00:20:36 -0400

As a weekend full of Red Sox-Yankees and Bruins-Penguins got underway, there was a lot of move along/nothing to see here from the Celtics.

They still don’t have definitive plans or answers from their Big Three — Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and coach Doc Rivers — but league sources are saying the C’s have a much better idea of what they will be able to do to improve their roster this offseason. And while some of those answers aren’t encouraging, others give a hint that Danny Ainge may have some options when it comes to moves.

Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers quite the pair

Steve Bulpett — Fri, 31 May 2013 01:43:43 -0400

It’s nearly June. Do you know who your head coach is?

It’s a question with which the Celtics seem to be struggling. According to some folks who have basketball business with the club, there is growing concern that Doc Rivers has yet to make a public declaration he will continue to lead from the bench. He has remained in regular contact with the Celts, discussing the team’s direction for next season and beyond . . . but the definitive word has been yet unheard.

Into this verbal void has come speculation that:

Steven Adams could be a big help

Mark Murphy — Wed, 29 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Steven Adams hasn’t so much climbed as lit up the NBA draft board following his surprising workouts at Chicago’s predraft combine.

The question now, for some, isn’t whether the 7-foot New Zealander can help the Celtics. It’s become a matter of whether they would trade up from the 16th pick to take him on June 27.